Cricket? Really?!

Manny Being Manny: Cricket Edition from Big League Stew on Vimeo.

It's a bit disconcerting that Manny would be doing this, especially considering his hammy issues. Nevertheless, this is fun to watch. Check out Big League Stew for more.

Ramirez, the best right-handed hitter of his generation, swung through a couple of the tosses, but connected on a few more. After one long drive to what would have been center field, Ramirez tossed aside the cricket bat and started his trot, only to be sternly reminded that cricket players must run at all times with the bat in their hands.

"But no running today," one of his handlers quickly reminded.

In the end, I'm sure that Manny is going to draw a lot of criticism for coming out to play cricket for cash when he's not yet healthy enough to play left field at Chavez Ravine. It's definitely warranted, though the whole exercise didn't look overly strenuous.

Also, look at it this way: Maybe now a few cricket teams will actually be able to create a real bidding war once Scott Boras has Manny opt out of his contract after this season.

Hunt: More Dodger Items

Here is my third installment of auction items from Hunt's recently closed March offering. Check my recent stories featuring collectibles from the estates of Negro Leaguer J. Leonard Mitchell and former Brooklyn Dodger Van Lingle Mungo.

I thought I would start out with this fun press photo (circa 1950's) of Roy Campanella and Duke Snider straddling a bunch of bats. It sold for $225.00.

Auction Link: Campanella/ Snider Photo:

Some of you may know that Brooklyn also hosted a professional football team known as the Brooklyn Dodgers. How original, eh! There were actually 2 different Brooklyn Dodgers football franchises, so I'm not sure which one this belongs to. My guess is that it's the old NFL team that played in Brooklyn from 1930 to 1943. This coat sold for $1,300.00.

Auction Link: Dodgers Football Overcoat:

There were numerous game used Dodger jerseys available in this auction, from Gary Sheffield and Manny Mota to Claude Osteen and Steve Bilko. Below is a game used 1992 Dodger jersey of Orel Hershiser. What I found notable about this jersey are some of the patches. It includes a commemorative patch for Roy Campanella and Don Drysdale who died in 1993 and a special patch for pitcher Tim Crews (#52) who died the same year. It sold for $1,200.00.

Auction Link: 1992 Hershiser Game Used Jersey:

Here is a 1963 World Series banner featuring the Dodgers against the hated Yankees. "Mangle Mantle! Murder Maris! Whack Whitey! Klonk Kubek! Bop Berra!" It sold for $225.00.

Auction Link: 1963 WS Banner:

Campanella game-used bats are the rarest of Hall of Fame bats from the era. This bat is stamped World Series 1952 and has evident game use attributes.

The bat exhibits evident use including ball marks, cleat marks, rack marks, and general surface wear. Model #G80 is stamped on the knob end... This bat has never before been offered publicly and originates from the family of a gentleman whose godmother was a family friend and neighbor of the Campanella's when they lived in Hollis Queens. According to family history, the bat was received from the Campanella's in the mid 1950's and reportedly hung over a bar in Campy's home.

It sold for $23,000.00.

Auction Link: Campanella Game Used WS Bat:

Hunt: Van Lingle Mungo

I've been a bit negligent in my posting recently of some of the bigger and better auctions in the market place. So, I hope to make up for that over the next several days.

A week or so ago I wrote about the collection of mostly Negro League items in Hunt's March Auction, but there was much more to that auction then the items from Mr. J. Leonard Mitchell's estate. In fact, the estate of former Brooklyn Dodger Van Lingle Mungo (The greatest Baseball name ever!) was featured in the auction as well. Check out some of his items below.

The Dodger have always been a family and the letter below certainly supports that. Dodgers General Manager, Larry MacPhail, offers the Dodgers support to Mrs. Mungo regarding Van Lingle's excessive drinking. It is signed by MacPhail and states pointedly, "Your problem and our problem is identical. If any of us quit on him, he won't make the grade." This letter sold for $550.00.

Auction Link: Letter between MacPhail and Mrs. Mungo:

This is one of the nicest items in this collection. Here is a circa 1931 team issued Brooklyn Robins belt buckle given to Mungo his rookie season.

(It) Features various design elements including his raised initials "VLM", enameled Robins bird logo, and decorative figural baseball in relief bearing his number "33" surrounded by the words "Base Ball Club" set in enameling.

It sold for a very affordable $325.00.

Auction Link: Mungo's Brooklyn Belt Buckle:

Here is a group of World Series ticket stubs for 1947, 1949 and 1950. No doubt that his wife or other family members used these tickets to root for the "Boys in Blue." The lot of 9 tickets sold for $800.00.

Auction Link: Mungo's WS Ticket Stubs:

Blog Kiosk 3/15/2009

Go Dodgers Go!

• Here is a great write-up on Camelback Ranch by Charles Fountain of Boston.com who calls the facility the new standard for Spring Training complexes.
• Check out this awesome new McFarlane action figurine of Russell Martin. Hat Tip: Vin Scully is My Homeboy:
• Check out the souvenir AL Championship ring the Rays will be handing out to fans in April.
• RIP John Odom. Some of you may recall John Odom. He was the young minor leaguer who was traded for 10 Prairie Sticks maple baseball bats last year. Unfortunately, John Odom has been found dead of an accidental drug overdose.
• Former Dodger GM Paul DePodesta writes a helpful guide about Pre-Arbitration Players.
• A comic book featuring Superman for the first time, Action Comics #1, recently sold at auction for $317,200.00. It sold at ComicConnect.
• LABaseballTV walks around Camelback ranch.

YouTube Video Link:labaseballtv:

• Narz interviews Sy Berger, the father of modern day Baseball cards.

YouTube Link: ripparty:

Chasing the Dream

With the Baseball season fast approaching open tryouts become more frequent. Last week the Dodgers held their open tryout in Arizona. Now, the Long Beach Armada of the independent Golden Baseball League is holding open tryouts later this month.

The Long Beach Armada has announced a date for the team's open tryout. The tryout will be held on March 28 at Irvine High School for a chance to be invited to the Armada's 2009 training camp in May.

The Armada is preparing for its 5th season of professional baseball in Long Beach, and new manager Garry Templeton is looking for talented players to help the club return to the playoffs.

"I want to find the best players at the tryout and bring them to our camp," Templeton said. "You find good players that show up and guys that have been released [from affiliated clubs] and are looking to catch on with us, so there's talent out there."

Players interested in trying out are encouraged to register early with the Armada by calling the team office at (562) 427-4487. Early registration is $60, and walk-up registration is $75. Registration and check-in will be from 8am-9am on Saturday, March 28 with tryouts beginning at 9am. The address for Irvine High School is 4321 Walnut Ave, Irvine, CA 92604. Participants should be at least 19 years old.

Manny Billboard

I was just sent this a moment ago, so I thought I'd share it with all of you. Here is a video of a Manny Ramirez billboard going up. Mannymania is about to begin anew.

YouTube Link: